Agitator for brickmaking machines



May 16, 1950 B. A. SgHNElDER AGITATOR FOR BRICK MAKING MACHINES Filed July 23, 1947 2 Shets-Sheet l y H950 B. A- SCHNEIDER AGITATOR FOR BRICK MAKING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 23, 1947 Patented May 16, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AGITATOR FOR BRICKMAKING MACHINES Ben A. Schneider, Laurel, Miss.

Application July 23, 1947, Serial No. 762,891

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to brick making machines and more particularly to an agitator for brick making machines.

It is an object of this invention to provide an agitator for clay in a brick making machine having graduated irregular shaped cutting members operating with the rotation and end thrust of the auger of the machine within the die base thereof for increasing the porosity of the brick as it leaves the machine, thus preventing the compaction of the clay as it is prepared in the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an agitator of the kind to be more particularly described hereinafter to provide an opening in the brick to provide an interior drainage in the green brick.

A further object of this invention is to provide an agitator of this kind so constructed and arranged in the die base and die of the brick making machine to reduce checking and cracking of the brick in the process of drying and burning.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an agitator of this kind having rotating cutting members which may be disposed along the length of the supporting shaft as desired in the die base and having scarifiers which are adjustable on the shaft for disposition within the die and may be adjusted for various dies and die bases which may be used on the machine and for various types of clay.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly broken away and partly in section of the discharge end of the brick making machine having an agitator constructed according to an embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly broken away and partly in section of the agitator removed from the machine,

Figure 3 is a front elevation of one of the agitator blades removed from the device,

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the scarifier removed from the assembly,

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the scarifier.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I0 designates generally a brick making machine of a type commercially used in the trade at the prescut time. The brick and tile machine I0 is formed with a body II in which the clay is deposited after it has been prepared in a pugmill. The machine I0 is provided at its front or discharge end |2 with a die base M which may be readily removed and replaced by other types of die bases for any desired die. A die [5 is detachably mounted on the discharge end of the die base and provides the exit for the clay, being of any suitable or desired shape.

An auger I6 is rotatably mounted in the machine l0 and is disposed partially in the die base M for thrusting the clay through the die l5.

In order to reduce the checking and cracking of the brick in drying and burning, I have provided an agitator generally designated as 11, disposed on the end of the auger I6, within the die base l4 and die IS.

The agitator I1 is formed with a threaded supporting shaft or rod I8 fixed to the discharge end of the auger l6 concentric thereto. The outer end l9 of the shaft I8 is reduced in diameter for supporting thereon the scarifier members 20. A plurality of graduated agitator members 2| are secured on the shaft l8 within the die base and are reduced in size as they approach the die or discharge end of the die base.

Each of the agitator members is made of a flat piece of metal having an irregularly shaped pointed peripheral edge. The edges for suitable agitator members 2| are formed by shaping the plate into edges formed by two intersecting 5- pointed stars, one star being smaller than the other and having the points of one star disposed between the points of the other.

The members 2| are formed with a central opening 22 for sliding on the shaft 3. Successive agitator members as 2 la and 2") are spaced from the adjacent member by cylindrical or tubular spacers 24 loose on the shaft H3. The assembly of agitator members is secured on the shaft l8 by a nut 25 engaging at each end of the assembly and clamping the members 2| and spacers therebetween. In this manner the agitator members may be moved along the length of the shaft l8 to any desired position necessary for any particular die base and die or for a certain grade or type of clay. The agitator members may be spaced farther apart, and one or more may be removed for the purpose.

At least one scarifier 20' is secured on the outer end of the shaft l8 within the die I5. The scarifier 20 is formed of a rectangular body 21 having a central bore or opening 28 therethrough for loosely mounting the scarifier on the reduced end IQ of the shaft l8.

Wires 29 are fixed on the body 21 and extend substantially radially from the center. The scar ifler 20 is secured on the shaft l8 by a nut 30 engaging over the outer end of the shaft and clamping the scarifier between the nut 30 and the shoulder formed by the shaft 18 and its reduced end portion IS.

A cotter pin 3! is provided through the nut 30 and shaft If! for holding the scarifier 2!! and nut 30 against movement upon rotation of the agitator H.

In the use and operation of this agitator ll the assembly rotates with the auger in the die base l4 and die I5 so that the clay is forced over the agitators 2 I, 2111 and 2|b in the die base.

The clay reforms by the thrust from the auger around the shaft I3 in the die base and die and is forced over and through the wire scarifiers 20 which open a hole through the center of the brick to prevent subsequent compaction of the clay in the die and to provide an interior drainage in the green brick as the brick is heated in a kiln.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An agitator for a brick making machine having a die base, a die and an auger, comprising a supporting shaft on the end of said auger rotatable therewith, agitator members fixed on said shaft within said die base and a scarifier on said shaft adjacent the end of said die including a rectangular block having a central opening through which said shaft engages and a plurality of outwardly extending pins disposed along the marginal edges thereof.

2. An agitator for a brick machine having a die base, a die on the end thereof, and an auger rotatable within said die base; comprising a shaft on the end of said auger, a plurality of agitator members fixed on said shaft, a reduced diameter portion on the end of said shaft forming a shoulder, a scarifier including a rectangular block formed with a central opening adapted to loosely receive said reduced diameter portion, and a plurality of outwardly extending spaced apart pins disposed at right angles to the marginal edges thereof, and means engaging said reduced diameter portion outwardly of said block and adapted to clamp the latter against said shoulder.

BEN A. SCHNEIDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 148,527 Tisdale Mar. 10, 1874 1,346,786 Hood July 13, 1920 1,577,336 Marsden Mar. 16, 1926 1,809,160 Coste June 9, 1931 2,297,646 Bellezza et a1 Sept. 29, 1942 2,344,959 Avery Mar. 28, 1944 2,392,190 Ritter Jan. 1, 1946 

